While not my favorite Slaughter novel, this is still a solid read. The narrator for the audiobook is fabulous, and you could really feel the emotion sWhile not my favorite Slaughter novel, this is still a solid read. The narrator for the audiobook is fabulous, and you could really feel the emotion she put into each and every character she gave voice to. I feel torn, because the literary side of this book, the one that focuses on the sisters' backstory and relationship over the course of time is outstanding, but I felt like the crime fiction portion wasn't up to par with the author's usual plotting. The cases involving the past with Buddy and the present with Andrew contain important thematic elements in how women are treated in the world, even today, but I just didn't feel like this had the special something I tend to find in a slaughter novel, and found there to be a predictable outcome by the ending. Hey, we can't love them all, and I'll still be waiting eagerly for the author's next release.
TW: Basically, if you need a trigger warning, it's probably not the book for you. This book is graphic and violent on page and in great detail.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my ALC....more
I've been reading Chevy Stevens' books for over a decade now, and that feeling of picking up a new book by her never gets old. I've been reading Chevy Stevens' books for over a decade now, and that feeling of picking up a new book by her never gets old. ...more
I would say what a pleasant surprise, but Kelley Armstrong is about as sure of a bet as you can get when it comes to reliable authors. Can't wait to cI would say what a pleasant surprise, but Kelley Armstrong is about as sure of a bet as you can get when it comes to reliable authors. Can't wait to continue the series and catch up with everyone else!...more
She's done it again folks! Absolutely knocked another dark mystery out of the park. Looking forward to book #3!She's done it again folks! Absolutely knocked another dark mystery out of the park. Looking forward to book #3!...more
Even though 11/22/63 has been swirling inside my brain for a little over a week now, I haven't had the chance to properly sit down and write out a cohEven though 11/22/63 has been swirling inside my brain for a little over a week now, I haven't had the chance to properly sit down and write out a coherent review. Life is busy, and yet I cannot shake the feeling of pleasure I received from reading this book. It is a masterpiece, no doubt, but also the type of story that is suited to King's old style of dialogue and flair for throwback culture. Dare I suggest that this book is the author's unicorn? Clearly he is immensely talented, and a good number of his other works are amongst my favorite novels of all time, but there is something unique to this historical time-traveling fiction that keeps blinking in my peripheral, almost like a jealous lover, keeping me from fully enjoying any book that I have picked up since finishing this one. Maybe writing this review will give me a sense of release, or perhaps I'll gear up the old audible and dive in for a reread. In the meantime, let me try to put into words what most of you have already said, since I'm the last person on planet earth to read 11/22/63.
If I'm wrong about the above statement and you haven't read this yet, all you really need to know going in is that an ordinary teacher from "present day" time travels back to the late 50's in preparation to attempt to prevent JFK's assassination. However, even that above statement is deceitful, because that's literally all I knew about this book going in, and it is SO much more. In fact, the JFK stuff doesn't really kick in until the last 35% of the book, but please don't take that as a criticism. The way that Stephen King chooses to prepare us and lead us up to that moment is nothing short of brilliant; the process in getting to that fateful day is just as suspenseful, intriguing, and emotional as the climax.
As unbelievable as it sounds, King has written one of the most tender, intimate, and swoon-worthy romances of all time between these pages. There are heaps of action, suspense, and easter eggs planted for fans who have read other books by the author (visiting Derry right after the first summer that the Losers Club experienced Pennywise was unreal). If you're an audiobook lover, I highly suggest listening to this book, or at least supplementing your hardcopy with it. I would love to see King write something similar to this in the coming years, but even if he chooses not to, I'll cherish this experience, and every reread after, as one of the most compelling stories ever written in our contemporary age....more
I'll admit, I'm less than knowledgable about anything involving the art scene. I am not cool, hip, or in the know about much the3.5 stars rounded to 4
I'll admit, I'm less than knowledgable about anything involving the art scene. I am not cool, hip, or in the know about much these days other than Peppa Pig and Blippi, but it was nice to delve into an "adult" story that did not feature talking pigs or a grown man wearing clothes that appear to fit a toddler. This story is also being touted as a thriller, which I guess it is in some ways, but I would classify this more as a literary thriller, or a dramatic, thought provoking crime fiction. That's not a criticism, merely a heads up to those looking for a more classic thriller.
Where to start? This glitzy, sleek story is told in such a unique format; we do not learn the official name of out narrator, who gives off an unstable vibe from the very beginning, and I honestly found this so fascinating. I was intrigued to know what drove this character, what brought her to the art scene, and how someone could so seamlessly slip into the lifestyle of another person. Like I said, this is really more of a dark character study than a thriller, but there's enough of a vein of suspense that keeps the reader hooked and intrigued throughout. I found that once our nameless girl makes it to the art retreat Pine City, that the pacing really picked up and I found myself fully invested.
I don't want to say much more, but if you decide to read this one, and want to discuss in greater detail (AKA SPOILERS), we would love to have you join our Goodreads bookclub HERE!
*I was provided a finished copy of this book for review via the publisher; all thoughts are my own.
"Be very careful with Hannibal Lector. Dr. Chilton, the head of the mental hospital, will go over the physical procedure you use to deal with3.5 STARS
"Be very careful with Hannibal Lector. Dr. Chilton, the head of the mental hospital, will go over the physical procedure you use to deal with him. Don't deviate from it. Do not deviate from it one iota for any reason... We both know you have to back-and-forth a little in interviews, but you tell him no specifics about yourself. You don't want any of your personal facts in his head."
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Bet you thought I was never going to write this review, huh? ;) Well, it turns out I just needed a good long pause to toss around my thoughts before attempting to wrangle them on paper. There's a lot of pressure diving into a book that has been deemed a modern classic, and you never know what side of the spectrum you'll fall on once you've experienced such, but I'm pleased that overall, this was a really enjoyable experience for me. While I've seen the movie over the years more times than I can count, somehow it didn't ruin my experience or opinion of the book. Below, there will be quite a few spoilers and discussion pertaining to specific plot points and comparisons from the book-to-film adaptation, so if you haven't read the book or seen the movie and desire to know no specifics, please stop here.
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I'm going to start with all the things that I loved. Obviously, the book is way better than the movie, due to the amount of detail and characterization that is lost in translation when you must condense a 400+ page novel into a 2 hour film production. The characters are richly developed, flawed, and their decision making process and solving of the cases in general are quite progressive considering this book was published in the 1980s. The Silence of the Lambs is a wonderful example of how, we can see glimpses of the villain throughout the book, and still garner the compulsive pacing of a whodunnit.
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One thing that felt odd to me was reconciling the fact that, for the time this book was published, the story is so progressive in some aspects and terribly disappointing in others. If you've seen the movie, then you probably are aware of how, at best, the movie is borderline transphobic, and this is due to the fact that they left out some crucial scenes from the book. While the movie implies maybe once or twice that Jame Gumb is not really transgender, they don't do a full job of explaining the why or how behind his choices; in fact, the movie leaves out his backstory entirely, as well as a scene that was filmed but cut from the final production portraying the investigation into the transgender clinic. In the book, it is clearly shown how transgender people are a peaceful group, and how our villain is someone who IS NOT transgender, and was rejected for reassignment surgery based on multiple red flags that occurred during the initial application. Also, the doctor that the FBI initially tries to coerce into giving up personal information regarding his patients not only defends his patients, but goes on the offensive to protect the minority group. I really loved how the book handled this SO much better than the movie.
The one thing that REALLY bugged me though, is how you can have a novel written in the '80s that was LGBT forward, but unrealistically fat shaming women from start to finish. I figured I'll be ripped a new one for this and deemed a sensitive snowflake, so I decided to mark specific passages for reference. One particular example is in chapter 34, where Starling is poking around in Catherine's apartment after she's been abducted. On page 242 (in my copy), there's an internal monologue where Clarice is flipping through her closet, and notes that at almost 6 ft tall, Catherine has sets of clothes in 2 sizes-large and "crisis fat". It's stated that the first set are when she is 145lbs and the second at 165lbs. For reference, I have a friend who is 6ft tall and was constantly asked if she was anorexic, and she weighed 185lbs. I understand that point is that Buffalo Bill is kidnapping full figured women to fit his long term outcome, but I had a hard time stomaching that we are told somewhere between 15-20 times throughout the book how OMG THESE GIRLS ARE SO FAT SO FAT SO FAT UGH DISGUSTING DON'T THEY HAVE ANY SELF RESPECT AGAIN SO FAT, and yet, according to the specific height and weight details we're given, they are medically and even socially NOT FAT. We even get a few inner monologues where Catherine knows her full figured body is attractive, but we're immediately reminded afterwards to NOT FORGET SHE'S FAT AND UGH SO GROSS!!!! *deep breath* Alright, I'm done beating that to death.
Lastly, aside from Jack Crawford's character, I felt the movie was mostly cast well, with the best being Ted Levine as Buffalo Bill. Jody Foster as Clarice was a bit of stretch for me, as the Clarice in the book isn't quite the pushover we see on screen, but still not a bad choice. I can wholly see why this is the book most refer to that initiated the mainstream craze for forensic crime scene novels, as it is a really well written procedural, and manages to feel realistic but not lose the page turning quality of suspense that it carries. Overall, I'm so glad I read this one and look forward to circling back around to Red Dragon....more
Please, don't get me wrong, I still whole-heartedly ADORE this series, but out of the three entries I've read so far, this one felt the weakest. We haPlease, don't get me wrong, I still whole-heartedly ADORE this series, but out of the three entries I've read so far, this one felt the weakest. We had some nice, strong reveals here, and I'm dying to know what happens next, but there was a bunch of filler and non-productive angsty love triangle inserted as well. On to the next one!...more
I know I'm late to the party, but I'm positively addicted to Cainesville and my quest in uncovering the answers to all of its mysteries.I know I'm late to the party, but I'm positively addicted to Cainesville and my quest in uncovering the answers to all of its mysteries....more
Uff. I keep forgetting to come back and write a review for this one, and now I'm reading book two which is making my brain hurt trying to separate whaUff. I keep forgetting to come back and write a review for this one, and now I'm reading book two which is making my brain hurt trying to separate what happens in each.
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How's this? "I really liked this book, so much that I grabbed the second book from my library the moment it came in, because I gotta know what happens next and answer some questions and most likely raise more questions." Why did I wait so long to read these? I love the subtle use of Welsh mythology and the mild vibes of horror infused here. The Cainesville atmosphere is a delicious mix of morose and dreamy, which I AM HERE FOR. Seriously, I weirdly wanted to stay away because YIKES, but also kinda wanted to move in part time? Such a fun read and am looking forward to more!...more
You're Invited: Seeking women aged 18-32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality conducted by a preeminent NYC psychiatrist. Generous compensYou're Invited: Seeking women aged 18-32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality conducted by a preeminent NYC psychiatrist. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed. Call for more details.
Ok, so you know how every year there are books that come out of the gate hyped up? I'm talking a full calendar year before publication, these books are already being shoved in our faces and by the time they come out we are underwhelmed and sick to our stomachs of seeing said book floating around social media to the point we scream and rip out our hair? Don't worry, this isn't one of those. That's not to say we won't see it floating around prominently for the next six months, simply that it is in fact worthy of every bit of hype it's already receiving. In all honesty, I was a bit nervous picking up the sophomore novel following readers' beloved The Wife Between Us, simply due to the high bar that was set with this author duo's debut. In my humble opinion, An Anonymous Girl was even better than TWBU, and I mean that as the highest compliment that I can give!
We all have reasons for our actions. Even if we hide the reason from those who think they know us best. Even if the reasons are so deeply buried we can't recognize them ourselves.
This is one you need to go into the plot blind folks. Where The Wife Between Us is known for that massive twist (you know the one I'm talking about), An Anonymous Girl slams you over and over again. It's not comprised of a single, WTF twist; this one hits you time and again with OMG-Oh-No-She-Didn't whiplash. Every time I thought I had this one figured out, it turns out I had misjudged and things kept changing. It was the type of complex, thrilling novel of suspense that I have't come across in quite awhile. It's getting harder as an avid reader of mysteries to find ones that I can't figure out immediately, and this one proved to me that there ARE still new tricks and writing techniques that can be used to fool readers while keeping them engaged with the characters. And talk about some wicked nasty characters... My favorite!
I'm going to shut up now and let you decide if this is a book you're interested in, but just know that I enjoyed it so much that I'm contemplating re-reading it before publication date just to see if I can catch any of the clues that I missed the first go around; it was that good. I even bumped my initial 4 star rating up to a banging 5 because I can't stop thinking about this book. If you are able to get your hands on an early copy, don't put it off until publication date. If you are the type to pre-order, PRE-ORDER THIS BABY. Seriously, it's such a fun read with a sly and delicious cover; your bookshelf will thank you! Your family, your boss, and your to-do list however will not; they'll be sorely disappointed that you stayed up until the wee hours of the morning binging this juicy drama.
Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review....more
This was so adorable. I was really needing something of the contemporary, cute romance nature, and this was brilliant. I fell so hard for this bunch oThis was so adorable. I was really needing something of the contemporary, cute romance nature, and this was brilliant. I fell so hard for this bunch of friends and, while I guessed early on who Blue was, I still enjoyed watching the "mystery" unfold through his and Simon's emails. This was such a quick audio listen (less than 7 hours on 1X speed), so I devoured this in 2 days. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda was every bit as heartfelt compulsive as I was led to believe. Full review to come!...more
Don’t get me wrong... I have really enjoyed TMI series so far, but THIS one is my jam. I somehow picked this up at precisely the right time as I was iDon’t get me wrong... I have really enjoyed TMI series so far, but THIS one is my jam. I somehow picked this up at precisely the right time as I was in the mood for something historical along with an intriguing adventure and this was it. If TMI are my guilty pleasure/angsty teen romance, the TID are the more grown up and slightly darker version of those guilty pleasures. I was going to initially try to alternate these with my remaining TMI books, but I think I’ll stick with this trilogy first and return to those afterward. I can’t really add anything else that hasn’t been reviewed a million times over already, but I’m so happy that I finally get to see who these beloved characters are.
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I have heard so many people say that they love TID much more than TMI, so I decided to make this my Suspenseful Clues and Thrilling Reviews choice for July! (Prompt-a book that starts with the first letter of your name.) I'm really excited to finally meet the characters that everyone else is constantly talking about!...more
I really enjoyed the wrap up of this "phase" of The Mortal Instruments. I had heard varied opinions on the ending, how some people felt the pay off diI really enjoyed the wrap up of this "phase" of The Mortal Instruments. I had heard varied opinions on the ending, how some people felt the pay off didn't hold a candle to the amount of detailing and set up required to get there, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, probably because I was expecting (view spoiler)[a long, drawn out battle (hide spoiler)] but instead we get (view spoiler)[a satisfying dressing down of Valentine. I mean seriously, when Raziel is telling him off like a spoiled brat who needs to be put in his place made my heart soar. (hide spoiler)]
Picking these books up a decade after they were originally published means I wasn't able to avoid all spoilers completely, but I gotta say I was still shocked by a few of the twists and amazed that I didn't see them coming. It's also nice to see how The Infernal Devices will tie in, because for the first two books I kept wondering "who are these random families and why should I care about them?" Also, Magnus + Alec = <3 My absolute favs for sure.
These books aren't for everyone, and I respect that, but I also see why they have such a large fan base. Cassie Clare can manage to fit multiple types of writing into a single storyline without it feeling jumbled or confusing. We have serious moments, romantic moments, but we also have moments where these teens are able to be teens. It's so important for authors to remind us that these characters in YA fiction aren't in fact middle aged men and women. Just the simple, ordinary moments, like the banter about their regular clothes and how to get girls or guys to like them is essential. On to the nest one soon! ...more
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